Vehicle coupling



Feb. 26, 1952 PETERSON I 2,587,208

VEHICLE COUPLING Filed Oct. .13, 1950 iglllllllllll l 7 6, 5, 1 LOUIS IL. PETERSON INVEN7UR HUEBNER, BEEHLER,

WORREL & HERZ/G ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 26, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcE YEHICLE COUPLING Louis L. Peterson, Dos Palos, Calif. Application October 13, 1950, Serial No. 189,950

3 Claims. 1 l The present invention relates to vehicle couplings and more particularly to a coupling adapted for the releaseable interconnection of leadin and following vehicles in traction-bucking relation having particular utility in trains of tractorscraper units operated in paths of circuitous travel.

In the conveying of earth from a source of excess thereof to a point of deposit, as encountered in land leveling, road grading, and other operations, it is the usual practice to employ a plurality of tractor-scraper units circuitously traveled from the point of excess earth at which they are loaded to the point of deposit of the earth and return. The tractor-trailer units are operated in following relation in their circuitous paths of travel and are not inappropriately referred to as constituting a train.

It is well known that scrapers have excessive power requirements when they are being loaded. Such scrapers of the wheel supported types particularly require comparatively littl motivating power during conveyance of a full load of earth supported therein to a point of deposit and even lower power requirements for the empty return travel to the loading point. It is the usual practice to provide tractors in tractor-scraper units with adequate power for simple loading operations, but inasmuch as the power of the tractor represents at economic compromise, inadequate power for speedy loading operations or excessively difficult loading is available.

The present invention results from the discovery that a plurality of tractor-scraper units operated in train relation may be of substantial aid to each other by the provision of couplings for the units adapted to interconnect the units in traction-bucking relation whereby leading and followingunits may pool their available power as an assistance to one or more of the coupled units subjected to unusually high power requirements.

An object of the present invention is to pro.-.

vide janimproved bumper coupling adapted for the releaseable interconnection of vehicles 'in traction-bucking relation.

Another object is to provide for the convenient interconnection and disconnection of tractortrailer unit operated in train relation for traction and pushing mutual assistance in order to pool the power of several thereof to assist successive individual units in loading or overcoming other increased'loads to which the units may be periodically or successively subjected.

Another object is to provide an improved bumper coupling having abuttable members for pushing purposes and traction means adapted automatically to interconnect the abuttable members when they are caused to approach each other.

Another object is to provide, in a device of the character described, for the automatic disconnection of the traction means when the abuttable members are caused to approach each other closer than a predetermined distance and to reconnect upon subsequent separation thereof.

' A further object'is to provide manually operable means whereby such reconnection can be optionally avoided.

Still further objects and advantages will become apparent in the subsequent description in the specification.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a section of a tractor-trailer train consisting of three tractor-trailer unit equipped with couplings embodying the principles of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation of the rearward end portion of a leading tractorscraper unit and the forward end portion of a following tractor-scraper unit interconnected by means of the coupling of the present invention.

Fig. 3 is a further enlarged fragmentary plan view of a frame portion of a leading tractrfiscraper unit and frame portion of a following tractor-scraper unit showing the coupling of the present invention connected therebetween.

Fig. 4 is a vertical longitudinal section through the coupling as taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the, portion of the coupling of the present invention mounted in forwardly disposed positions on the tractorscraper unit.

Referring in greater detail to the drawing:

In Fig. 1, a tractor-trailer unit transporting earth is indicated generally at I0, a unit loading earth indicated at H, and a unit approaching to load earth indicated at 12. The units are of a popular form employing rubber tired tractors I3 in towing relation to wheel supported, socalled carry-all scrapers I4. The forward end portions of the scrapers are rested on the rearward end portions of the tractors by means of goose neck draft bars IS. The couplings interconnecting the units l0, II, and I2 are indicated at 5. Although the utility of the couplings of the present invention is conveniently illustrated by reference to the tractor-trailer units described. it is to be understood that the couplings are not limited to such use but satisfactorily employed releaseably to interconnect vehicles or any desired. type in traction-bucking relation.

The tractors l3 normally provide forwardly disposed bumpers conveniently employed to mount a portion of the coupling. Shallow frustopyrimidal concave bumper plates 2| are supported in erect attitudes in forwardly disposed position on the bumpers 2G. The bumper plates are conveniently fabricated from sheet steel or the like. Inasmuch as the bumper plates are employed to push or buck leading tractor-trailer units, they must be mounted on their respective bumpers so as to withstand considerable shock. and strain. This is conveniently accomplished. by weldin a pair of substantially parallel'bracket plates 22 on the top of each of the bumpers 20 in substantially horizontally extended positions. Similarly, a pair of lower bracket plates 23 are welded on the lower surface of each bumper and forwardly extended in substantial vertical alignment. with corresponding bracket plates of the upper pair 22 and in parallel relation thereto. A pair of substantially parallel mounting plates 24 are weldably mounted on the rearward face of each of the bumper plates 2| and slid-ably fitted between the bracket plates 22 and 23 of their respective bumper plates. Bores, not shown, are formed vertically through the mounting plates 24 and the bracket plates 22 and 23. As an assembly convenience, screw-threaded nuts 25 are welded to the mounting plates in alignment with the bores between said plates. Bolts 25 are passed through the bracket plates 22 and 23 and tightened into the nuts 25 thus securing thef'rustum shaped bumper plates 2| securely on the bumpers 2% of their respective tractortrailer units.

The. interconnection of the bumper plates and their respective mounting plates is preferably reinforced by a plurality of substantially'parallel, vertically disposed gusset plates 27 weldably connected to the mounting plates and to the bumper plate at opposite sides of the bracket plates 22 and 23..

As clearly evident in Figs. 3 and 5, the frustum shaped bumper plates 2| have slots 36 formed vertically therein from the upper edges thereof dqvnwardly to positions slightly above the upper bracket plates 22. The bottoms of the slots, as will soon become apparent, constitute hook stops indicated for illustrative convenience at 3|.

Scrapers of the type shown at l4 generally have rearwardly extended frame portions conveniently employed in mounting the relatively forwardly disposed portions of the coupling on the leading units. It is of courseto be understood that scrapers or other vehicles which. do not have rearwardly extended frame portions, may be provided with any suitable rearwardly extended'members adequate to support the portions of the coupling about to be described which are mounted thereon and to withstand the traction and bucking forces imposed by the full use of the coupling in the cooperative utilizationof the. power. of a plurality of tractor-trailer units or thelike operated in train relation. 7

A rearwardly disposed convex frusto-pyrimidal bumper plate 4i? of sheet steel or the like is mounted on the rearwardly extended end portions of the frame members 35 in such a position that when the units on which the concave bumper plate 2| and convex bumper plate 40. are mounted are aligned, the convex bumper plate 40 centers onthe concave bumper plate 2|. For pushing" purposes the convex bumper plate 4 48 is adapted to nest within the concave bumper plate 2| but in order to accommodate varied elevations in terrain traversed, human error in aligning the units, and the like, the convex bumper plate 40 is preferably substantially smaller than the concave bumper plate 2|.

The mounting of the convex bumper plates 40 is conveniently accomplished by means of counter-sunk bolts 4| rearwardly extended therethrough, through ears 4Zborne by the frame portions 35 and tightened into position by screw threaded nuts 43. When the scraper frames 35 are not at the same elevation as the bumpers 20, it hasbeen found desirable in order to brace the convex bumper plates 40 in positions aligned to nest in the. concave bumper plates 2| to mount gusset plates 44 on the frame members having rearwardly extended arm portions 45 to which the convex bumper plates are also connected by means of the counter-sunk bolts 4| and nuts 43.

As shown, the convex bumper plates 40 have substantially horizontalupper edges 50 to which traction hooks 5| effect connection, as shown in Fig. 2'. The hooks are individually mounted in the slots 30 of the concave bumper plates for pivotal elevational movement, as by pintles 52 extended through the gusset plates 21 adjacent to the slots and throughrearward end portions of the hooks located therebetween. The. hooks provide substantially straight shank portions 53 extended forwardly and upwardly from the pivotal mounting of the hooks. The forwardly extended end portions of the hooks. 5iare forwardly and upwardly beveled, asat54, to provide a cam: ming surface adapted to ride over the horizontal upper edges of approached convex bumper plates 40.. The beveled portions terminate. attheir rearward ends in rearwardly disposed shoulders 56. The stop portions 3| are at a. height in relation to the pintles 52 that downward pivotal. movement of thehooks is limited to positions. of the hooks where the beveled. portions 54- strike the horizontalupper edges of the concave bumper plates approached.

The extended ends of the hooks 5| provide eyes. 60 through which a-control cable. 6| is secured. Arms 62 areweldably-or otherwise secured to the gusset plates 21 in. upwardly extended positions and mounts sheaves 63- therein. Cables 6| are connected to the eyes 60, threaded through the sheaves. 63, and extended rearwardly to positions of convenientaccess for operators of. the tractors l3.

Operation The operatiomof. thedevice is. believed to be clearly. apparent. and isv briefly summarized at;

their lowermost pivotal positions defined by the st0ps3| by releasing the cables 6|.. As a tractor l3 approaches a scraper. M in leading relation thereto, the beveled portion 54 of. the hook 5| strikes the forwardly inclined horizontal upper edge 50 of? the frustum shaped convexbumper plate 40 and rides upwardly. thereover until. the shoulder 56 hooks over said horizontaledge of the convex bumperv plate. So associated. the.

scraper is connected in towing relation tothe following tractor I3 and the power of the scraper's leading tractor may be employed to aid in towing the following tractor and its respective scraper. I

As shown in Fig. 4, if the frustum shaped concave bumper plate 2I is caused more closely to approach the frustum shaped convex bumper plate 40, the shank 53 of the hook 5| rides upwardly over the horizontal upper edge of the bumper plate 40 and pivots upwardly into the slot 30. This automatically disengages the shoulder 56 from the upper edge of the convex bumper plate and the traction interconnection of the plates respective vehicles is interrupted. When separation of the vehicles or units is desired, the operator of the following vehicle or unit through tension applied to the cable BI maintains the hook 5| in an upwardly pivoted position where the shoulder 56 will not snag'the upper edge 0 the convex bumper plate 40. Upon still closer approach of the concave bumper plate 2| to the convex bumper plate 40 they assume a nested association, as demonstrated between the units II and I2 in Fig. 1. In such association, a following tractor is able to impart substantial pushing or bucking force through the coupling on the scraper immediately in front of said tractor. If it is expected that the leading unit will subsequently be expected to exert traction force on the following unit, no tension is applied to the cable BI and the hook 5| is permitted to pivot downwardly as the shank thereof rides over the upper edge of the convex bumper plate 40. When. the shoulder 56 is brought to bear against the upper edge of said bumper plate through the increased spacing of the bumper plates, traction interconnection is established.

Fig. 1 illustrates the significant cooperative employment of available power achieved through employment of the traction-bucking couplings of the present invention. The tractor-scraper unit I I is shown with the scraper I4 thereof in loading position. In such condition it is diflicult to pull and fully taxes the power of its tractor frequently even when the loading operation is slowly performed. The tractor-scraper unit I0 is illustrated as having already been loaded and in the process of conveying a load of earth to a point of deposit. Under such condition the unit ID needs to employ only a fraction of the power available through its tractor I3. It will be noted that the coupling I6 between the units I 0 and II establishes traction interconnection of said units whereby the surplus of power available to the tractor in the unit I0 is utilized in towing relation to the unit I I whereby more expeditious loading of the scraper of unit II can be achieved. The tractor-trailer unit I2 is illustrated as empty, as is the normal condition in returning to a loading point from a point of earth deposit. In such condition the tractor l3 of the unit I2 effectively also utilizes only a small portion of its available power. It will be noted that the coupling I6 between the units II and I2 is in pushing condition so that the tractor of unit I2 can exert a substantial bucking or pushing influence on the trailer of the unit II. Through the cooperative employment of the available power of the various units, loading under much more difficult conditions can be achieved than has heretofore been considered possible and the loading effected at a much higher speed. As soon as unit II is loaded and its scraper is shifted to carrying position, its excess power readily causes its tractor more close- 1y to approach the unit Ill pivoting the hook 5I therebetween upwardly as demonstrated in Fig. 4. The operator of unit II tensions his cable BI, retaining the hook in an upwardly pivoted position and the unit In is thus freed to convey its earth to a point of deposit while unit I I through its connection to unit I2 which now becomes traction in effect assists unit I2 in its loading operation while a successive unit, notshown, assumes the bucking position originally fulfilled by unit I2.

The couplings of the present invention are convenient to employ, inexpensive to produce,

' durable in operation, and by a relatively small investment permit the operators of a train of tractor-scrapers to pool the power of individual units thereof to overcome excessive loading or other power requirements achieving a more efficient and rapid completion of earth moving operations.

Although the invention has been herein shown and described in what .is conceived to be the most practical and preferred method and embodiment, it is recognized that departures may 3 be made therefrom within the scope of the inven-- tion, which is not to be limited to the details dis closed herein but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent devices and apparatus.

Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a pair of traction vehicle units arranged in following relation, releaseable coupling means comprising a pair of substantially complementary concave-convex bumper plates positioned between the units with one thereof mounted on the leading unit in rearwardly disposed position and the other thereof on the following unit in forwardly disposed position, one of the plates having a substantially horizontal upper edge and the other having a slot formed substantially vertically therein, and a hook pivotally mounted on the unit mounting the plate providing the slot and extended through the slot, the hook having an endwardly and downwardly slanted extended end, a downwardly disposed shoulder formation adjacent to the slanted extended end, and a substantially straight shank portion intermediate the shoulder formation and the pivotal mounting of the hook, the pivotal mounting of the hook being lower than the upper horizontal edge of the opposite plate and the bottom of the slot of its respective plate limiting downward pivotal movement of the hook to an inclined position with its extended end at substantially the elevation of the upper edge of said opposite plate.

- 2. In a train of tractor-scraper units in which each unit consists of a tractor in towing relation to a scraper, the combination of a socket-shaped bumper plate mounted in forwardly disposed position on, each tractor and having a slot formed substantially vertically therein, a convex bumper plate mounted in rearwardly disposed position on each scraper adapted loosely to nest within a socket-shaped bumper plate of a following tractor, each convex bumper plate having a substantially horizontal upper edge, and a hook pivotally mounted on each tractor rearwardly of said tractors respective bumper plate and forwardly extended through the slot thereof, the hooks having rearwardly and downwardly slanted extended ends forwardly adjacent to rearwardly disposed shoulder formations and substantially straight shank portions intermediate the shoulder formations and the respective pivotal mountings of the hooks, the pivotal-mounting of each-hook-on each tractor being lower than the upper edgeof the convex bumper plate of the respective tractors scraper; and the bottom of the slots in the socket-shaped bumper plates limiting downward pivotal movement of their respective hooks to forwardly inclined positions'with their'extended ends at substantially the elevation of the upper edges of the concave bumper plates.

3. In av trainof tractor-scraper units in which each unit consists of a tractor in towing relation toa scraper; means for releaseably interconnecting the units for cooperative pushing and pulling co-action comprising a concave frustum-shaped bumper plate mounted in forwardly disposed position on each tractor having a slot formed in a substantially vertical position centrally thereof; a= convex frustum-shaped bumper plate mounted in rearwardly disposed position on each scraper adapted loosely to nest within the forwardly disposed bumper plate of a following tractor, each convex bumper plate having a substantially horizontal upper edge; a hook pivotally mounted on each tractor and forwardly extended through the slot of said tractcrs respective concave bumper plate and providing a forwardly inclined extended end adapted to cam the hook upwardly 8 over theupper edge of a convex bumper plate when moved 'theretoward insubstantial align-- ment therewith, a shoulder adapted tohook over the upper edge of such a bumper plate, and'a shank portion intermediate the shoulder and thepivotal mounting of the ho'olc adapted to ride over the upper edge of such a bumper plate and pivot the hook upwardly into its respective bumper plate for nested association of said plate: upon continued movement theretoward; and release means individually connectedtothe hooks adapted releasea-bly to retain their respective: hooks upwardl for detachment of adjacent units of the train.

LOUIS L. PETERSONi REFERENCES CITED- The following references are of record in the.

file of this patent:

UNITED STATES. PATENTS 

